“Business owners may also be fined, lose their deposits, have their trading items confiscated or even be imprisoned.

“The ban on plastic straws is in addition to the ban on plastics bags and polystyrene food packaging, which started in September last year (2017).

“The requirements are clearly stated in their business licences, so there is no excuse for the business owners to claim ignorance.

“Local authorities will not hesitate to take action according to its by-laws,” said Adnan.

Previously, FeedMe Malaysia highlighted the importance of single-use plastic straws ban as it poses significant threats to the environment. As all polypropylene plastics are, they are not biodegradable. Add that to the fact that plastic straws are small articles who are prone to fall between the cracks of recycling machines and causes expensive breakdowns.

Despite being fully recyclable, the quarter-inch hollow tubes live the fate as a problematic recyclable and that most recycling factories rather forego it all together to stay cost-effective.

So never recycle straws without consulting your local recycling plants. “Hopeful recycling” mentality hurts more in the end. Here is a list of things that are commonly assumed recyclables but they are not, according to The Guardian:

Hand soap pump dispenser tops

Kitchen roll

Non-paper gift wrap

Coffee cups

Plastic bags

Tissues

Wine glasses

Glass cookware

Window glass

Straws

Greasy takeaway pizza boxes (cut off and trash the greasy part and recycle the rest)